Author Topic: Any use for noncombat pets?  (Read 3946 times)

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Scottbert

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Any use for noncombat pets?
« on: September 24, 2009, 02:16:25 PM »
I'm playing a runaway noble in an upcoming game, and I thought it might be appropriate to have an exotic little pet -- nobles can do things like that.
Problem: How to make it useful? I'm playing a psion, so no familiar (although _maybe_ I could persuade my GM to allow one instead of a psicrystal). I'm thinking something familiar-like -- not a big, fighting animal. with stats similar to a weasel or cat or something.

Note: This is an urban campaign, so wilderness stuff will be less useful.

All I can think of is being trained to track by scent, and maybe to fetch small objects when for some reason I can't use Far Hand (ruled by the DM to be cantrip-level and usable at will).

If it can be made really useful, or there's a good way for something like this to contribute to combat, I might see about making it a proper familiar or a wild cohort so it can actually survive fights rather than having to run away when combat starts.

Maybe it will just be mostly useless, having a useless pet also seems like something a noble might do, and I'm sure I can have some fun roleplaying that, but if I can make it useful, that'd be great!

Thanks, brilliant gameologists!
-Characters-
Samuel Belmont, NG Human Strong/Fast/Martial Magus 8. Crafter of awesome swords and haver of ideas that don't work.
Staren - Human NG Smart/Conjurer 2. Future savior of the multiverse. Prime directive? What's that?
Fate - 4E G Wizard 2. Little girl, big magic power.
Staren (again) -  NG Human Paragon/Fighter/Evoker/Havoc Mage 9. Eager biter of adventure hooks.
Red Mage - NG Cansin Factotum 5. Breaker of the wrong fourth wall.

Rebel7284

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Re: Any use for noncombat pets?
« Reply #1 on: September 24, 2009, 02:19:35 PM »
scream "go for the eyes boo!."
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QOShea

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Re: Any use for noncombat pets?
« Reply #2 on: September 24, 2009, 02:21:01 PM »
Perhaps one of those little spider monkeys?

Can be trained to go for shiny objects and can wear magical items.

Anklebite

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Re: Any use for noncombat pets?
« Reply #3 on: September 24, 2009, 02:26:17 PM »
an imp you never let out of its cage?
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PhaedrusXY

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Re: Any use for noncombat pets?
« Reply #4 on: September 24, 2009, 02:26:58 PM »
Familiars use their master's skill ranks, and ravens can speak. So if the master takes ranks in Use Magic Device, a raven familiar could use magic items like wands.
[spoiler]
A couple of water benders, a dike, a flaming arrow, and a few barrels of blasting jelly?

Sounds like the makings of a gay porn film.
...thanks
[/spoiler]

veekie

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Re: Any use for noncombat pets?
« Reply #5 on: September 24, 2009, 02:27:26 PM »
Get a pet Skurid? Ninja squirrel uses are obvious.
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Please get it a blanket.

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QOShea

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Re: Any use for noncombat pets?
« Reply #6 on: September 24, 2009, 02:47:49 PM »
Familiars use their master's skill ranks, and ravens can speak. So if the master takes ranks in Use Magic Device, a raven familiar could use magic items like wands.

I didn't think that Psion's could have familiars.

PhaedrusXY

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Re: Any use for noncombat pets?
« Reply #7 on: September 24, 2009, 03:11:50 PM »
Familiars use their master's skill ranks, and ravens can speak. So if the master takes ranks in Use Magic Device, a raven familiar could use magic items like wands.

I didn't think that Psion's could have familiars.
From the OP:
Quote
I'm playing a psion, so no familiar (although _maybe_ I could persuade my GM to allow one instead of a psicrystal).
Although you can do the same thing with a psicrystal, and if you're a shaper Use Psionic Device is a class skill.
[spoiler]
A couple of water benders, a dike, a flaming arrow, and a few barrels of blasting jelly?

Sounds like the makings of a gay porn film.
...thanks
[/spoiler]

Scottbert

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Re: Any use for noncombat pets?
« Reply #8 on: September 24, 2009, 03:55:16 PM »
Regarding Use Magic Device in this campaign:

DM has ruled that Use Psionic Device and Use Magic Device are the same skill.
DM has ruled that familiars and psicrystals cannot use it.
-Characters-
Samuel Belmont, NG Human Strong/Fast/Martial Magus 8. Crafter of awesome swords and haver of ideas that don't work.
Staren - Human NG Smart/Conjurer 2. Future savior of the multiverse. Prime directive? What's that?
Fate - 4E G Wizard 2. Little girl, big magic power.
Staren (again) -  NG Human Paragon/Fighter/Evoker/Havoc Mage 9. Eager biter of adventure hooks.
Red Mage - NG Cansin Factotum 5. Breaker of the wrong fourth wall.

PhaedrusXY

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Re: Any use for noncombat pets?
« Reply #9 on: September 24, 2009, 04:07:57 PM »
Regarding Use Magic Device in this campaign:

DM has ruled that Use Psionic Device and Use Magic Device are the same skill.
DM has ruled that familiars and psicrystals cannot use it.
Bah, what the crap. He wants your pets to be useless. What if you turn it into something else via Alter Self?

What's he doing about getting a new psicrystal if one gets destroyed? And do they get feats and all that? If you can somehow get your psicrystal the Mindsight feat, that's quite useful.
[spoiler]
A couple of water benders, a dike, a flaming arrow, and a few barrels of blasting jelly?

Sounds like the makings of a gay porn film.
...thanks
[/spoiler]

Lycanthromancer

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Re: Any use for noncombat pets?
« Reply #10 on: September 24, 2009, 04:13:29 PM »
Psicrystals are great. Familiars, not so much.

Since psicrystals are constructs, they don't have to eat, breathe, or sleep. They're immune to poison, can see in the dark, have decent perception skills, and are perfectly capable of being sneaky (they're Diminutive, yo!). They can be metamorphosis'd into golems. They work well for taking your spot during a watch, for long-range recon (1 mile telepathy!), as universal translators, and for keeping the party scout within communications range.

They're incredibly versatile li'l buggers, and can be used offensively what with the Share Powers and Channel Powers abilities (they can make touch attacks for you with Medium BAB and size bonuses - they get HD-based feats, so that Str penalty can be replaced with the Dex bonus). They can also Aid Another to boost your skill checks, and (RAW, at least) can UPD for you.

They're also good infiltrators; just fluff them to look like precious gems, and what band of thieves wouldn't want to take it home with them?
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I dare anyone to find a hole in that logic.
______________________________________
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[spoiler]
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Which book is Lycanthromancer in?
Lyca ... is in the book. Yes he is.
 :D
shit.. concerning psionics optimization, lycan IS the book
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Akalsaris

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Re: Any use for noncombat pets?
« Reply #11 on: September 24, 2009, 04:23:26 PM »
Regarding Use Magic Device in this campaign:

DM has ruled that Use Psionic Device and Use Magic Device are the same skill.
DM has ruled that familiars and psicrystals cannot use it.
Bah, what the crap. He wants your pets to be useless. What if you turn it into something else via Alter Self?

What's he doing about getting a new psicrystal if one gets destroyed? And do they get feats and all that? If you can somehow get your psicrystal the Mindsight feat, that's quite useful.

Lycanthromancer

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Re: Any use for noncombat pets?
« Reply #12 on: September 24, 2009, 04:24:42 PM »
Heh. I'd say 'pet rock' is about as exotic as you can get. Especially one that really can do tricks on command.
[spoiler]Masculine men like masculine things. Masculine men are masculine. Therefore, liking masculine men is masculine.

I dare anyone to find a hole in that logic.
______________________________________
[/spoiler]I'm a writer. These are my stories. Some are even SFW! (Warning: Mostly Gay.)
My awesome poster collection. (Warning, some are NSFW.)
Agita's awesome poster collection.
[spoiler]
+1 Lycanthromancer
Which book is Lycanthromancer in?
Lyca ... is in the book. Yes he is.
 :D
shit.. concerning psionics optimization, lycan IS the book
[/spoiler]

Scottbert

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Re: Any use for noncombat pets?
« Reply #13 on: September 24, 2009, 04:33:49 PM »
Akalsaris: Hmm, that's a good idea.

Related to this: Can Tiny creatures be useful in combat? If they can be that might justify getting a Wild Cohort rather than just a regular pet.
-Characters-
Samuel Belmont, NG Human Strong/Fast/Martial Magus 8. Crafter of awesome swords and haver of ideas that don't work.
Staren - Human NG Smart/Conjurer 2. Future savior of the multiverse. Prime directive? What's that?
Fate - 4E G Wizard 2. Little girl, big magic power.
Staren (again) -  NG Human Paragon/Fighter/Evoker/Havoc Mage 9. Eager biter of adventure hooks.
Red Mage - NG Cansin Factotum 5. Breaker of the wrong fourth wall.

PhaedrusXY

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Re: Any use for noncombat pets?
« Reply #14 on: September 24, 2009, 04:34:38 PM »
Related to this: Can Tiny creatures be useful in combat? If they can be that might justify getting a Wild Cohort rather than just a regular pet.
I can't really see how a tiny wild cohort would be useful in combat, no.
[spoiler]
A couple of water benders, a dike, a flaming arrow, and a few barrels of blasting jelly?

Sounds like the makings of a gay porn film.
...thanks
[/spoiler]

Prime32

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Re: Any use for noncombat pets?
« Reply #15 on: September 24, 2009, 04:44:03 PM »
The famous psicrystal trick is sharing vigor and share pain with it so that you both get extra hp and damage is shared evenly between you. It's simple enough to hide a psicrystal on your person so enemies can't target it (or you could use a psionic version of familiar pocket).

I also like having the psicrystal take Wild Talent. The psion takes Psicrystal Containment. You now get psionic focus pretty much for free. Combine with Psionic Meditation if you still want the crystal to have actions left for things like...

Shape Soulmeld (dissolving spittle) + Bonus Essentia (+ Wild Talent + Psionic Shot) for an at-will ranged touch attack that deals acid damage.
« Last Edit: September 24, 2009, 04:46:34 PM by Prime32 »
My work
The tier system in a nutshell:
[spoiler]Tier 6: A cartographer.
Tier 5: An expert cartographer or a decent marksman.
Tier 4: An expert marksman.
Tier 3: An expert marksman, cartographer and chef who can tie strong knots and is trained in hostage negotiation or a marksman so good he can shoot down every bullet fired by a minigun while armed with a rusted single-shot pistol that veers to the left.
Tier 2: Someone with teleportation, mind control, time manipulation, intangibility, the ability to turn into an exact duplicate of anything, or the ability to see into the future with perfect accuracy.
Tier 1: Someone with teleportation, mind control, time manipulation, intangibility, the ability to turn into an exact duplicate of anything and the ability to see into the future with perfect accuracy.[/spoiler]

Scottbert

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Re: Any use for noncombat pets?
« Reply #16 on: September 24, 2009, 04:46:24 PM »
So so far the best ideas seem to be:
flying pet that can spot people from the air
pet rock that can do tricks! (psicrystal)

That or talking over UMD use with the GM. he aid he'd allow it if he didn't also allow UPD and UMD to share a single skill, so maybe I can make that work and craft power stones for it to use or something.

Prime32: How can a crystal shape soulmelds? Psicrystals don't get feats.
-Characters-
Samuel Belmont, NG Human Strong/Fast/Martial Magus 8. Crafter of awesome swords and haver of ideas that don't work.
Staren - Human NG Smart/Conjurer 2. Future savior of the multiverse. Prime directive? What's that?
Fate - 4E G Wizard 2. Little girl, big magic power.
Staren (again) -  NG Human Paragon/Fighter/Evoker/Havoc Mage 9. Eager biter of adventure hooks.
Red Mage - NG Cansin Factotum 5. Breaker of the wrong fourth wall.

Prime32

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Re: Any use for noncombat pets?
« Reply #17 on: September 24, 2009, 04:50:48 PM »
Prime32: How can a crystal shape soulmelds? Psicrystals don't get feats.
Yes. Yes they do. They have actual Hit Dice, with 3/4BAB.
My work
The tier system in a nutshell:
[spoiler]Tier 6: A cartographer.
Tier 5: An expert cartographer or a decent marksman.
Tier 4: An expert marksman.
Tier 3: An expert marksman, cartographer and chef who can tie strong knots and is trained in hostage negotiation or a marksman so good he can shoot down every bullet fired by a minigun while armed with a rusted single-shot pistol that veers to the left.
Tier 2: Someone with teleportation, mind control, time manipulation, intangibility, the ability to turn into an exact duplicate of anything, or the ability to see into the future with perfect accuracy.
Tier 1: Someone with teleportation, mind control, time manipulation, intangibility, the ability to turn into an exact duplicate of anything and the ability to see into the future with perfect accuracy.[/spoiler]

snakeman830

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Re: Any use for noncombat pets?
« Reply #18 on: September 24, 2009, 04:51:05 PM »
So so far the best ideas seem to be:
flying pet that can spot people from the air
pet rock that can do tricks! (psicrystal)

That or talking over UMD use with the GM. he aid he'd allow it if he didn't also allow UPD and UMD to share a single skill, so maybe I can make that work and craft power stones for it to use or something.

Prime32: How can a crystal shape soulmelds? Psicrystals don't get feats.
They get hit dice according to XPH, and every intelligent creature (including psycrystals) gains feats according to its HD.
I am constantly amazed by how many DM's ban Tomb of Battle.  The book doesn't even exist!

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Lycanthromancer

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Re: Any use for noncombat pets?
« Reply #19 on: September 24, 2009, 04:51:22 PM »
Prime32: How can a crystal shape soulmelds? Psicrystals don't get feats.
1. They gain HD.

2. They have an Int score.

3. They are creatures.

Therefore,

4. They get feats.

They even get Alertness as their #1 feat (though the rules explicitly say you can swap that out for another, if you want).

[edit] ACK! Ninja'd! x2!
[spoiler]Masculine men like masculine things. Masculine men are masculine. Therefore, liking masculine men is masculine.

I dare anyone to find a hole in that logic.
______________________________________
[/spoiler]I'm a writer. These are my stories. Some are even SFW! (Warning: Mostly Gay.)
My awesome poster collection. (Warning, some are NSFW.)
Agita's awesome poster collection.
[spoiler]
+1 Lycanthromancer
Which book is Lycanthromancer in?
Lyca ... is in the book. Yes he is.
 :D
shit.. concerning psionics optimization, lycan IS the book
[/spoiler]